Connected and Automated Vehicles

The US Department of Transportation’s Connected Vehicles Program is well underway, and related activities are occurring in multiple locations by varying private companies and public agencies. Connected vehicle research is a multimodal initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable networked wireless communications among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers’ personal communications devices. More information on the USDOT’s Connected Vehicle Research can be found at: http://www.its.dot.gov/connected_vehicle/connected_vehicle_tech.htm

The I-95 Corridor Coalition hosted a conference in June 2016 on connected and automated vehicles – specifically designed to support public agencies in addressing and accelerating the security, safety and operational issues related to the new connected/automated vehicle technologies within their jurisdictions and in coordination with neighboring jurisdictions. The goal was to illuminate and begin a discussion on how these vehicles will impact the Coalition members and what actions can be taken to mitigate risk and maximize benefits.

Below are the presentations from the Coalitions conference, presentations are linked in the presentation titles, simply click the link to view the presentation:

State Departments of Transportation are evaluating their roles and opportunities within the Connected Vehicles Program, and each is at a different level of involvement. The I-95 Corridor Coalition recently conducted a survey of member agencies to determine the connected and autonomous vehicle activities within the corridor. The survey results can be found here.

This introductory course targets transportation planners, managers, and engineers at state and local agency levels, who are interested in learning more about the Connected Vehicle Program and its benefits and implications for public agencies. Participants will learn about the safety, mobility and environmental applications envisioned for the connected vehicle environment.

Students will also gain an overview of the infrastructure requirements being developed, including communication standards, and operations and maintenance implications, and upcoming policy decisions. Lastly, they will be made aware of recent activities being supported by the ITS Joint Program Office and how they too can become involved by considering how vehicle to infrastructure communications and applications could be used to solve their problems.

The connected vehicle research being sponsored by U.S. DOT which is moving from Connected Vehicle Research to Reality. The connected vehicle concept leverages the potentially transformative capabilities of wireless technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter and greener. Connected vehicles will ultimately enhance the mobility and quality of life of all Americans, while helping to reduce the environmental impact of surface transportation.